Top of the Pops: The Story of 1988

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Top of the Pops

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The biggest stars, iconic performances and outrageous outfits in Britain's best pop show.

The biggest stars, the most iconic performances, the most outrageous outfits – it’s Britain’s number one pop show.

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Verity Maidlow Cornwell

Mark Cooper

The Story of 1988

BBC One - Top of the Pops, The Story of 1988Search BBC

A celebration of Top of the Pops 25th year including interviews with the stars of 1988.

In 1988, Top of the Pops turned 25. A celebration of the best music that year including interviews with Matt Goss, Jason Donovan, Wendy James, Aswad, Cold Cut, All About Eve and Wee Papa Girl Rappers.

1988 – and while Top of the Pops celebrates its Silver Jubilee (that’s 25 years, folks!), a new showrunner brings the show to an ever younger audience with lively new presenters – step forward Anthea Turner, Nicky Campbell et al.

The charts are full of sparkling box-fresh pop stars, from tweenage heartthrobs Bros (cue the screaming!) to the boy and girl next door we shared teatime with every weekday - our favourite Neighbours Kylie and Jason. 

Stock, Aitken and Waterman have reached their zenith with wall-to-wall hits. In stark contrast to the hosts of wholesomeness, Transvision Vamp put the grrr into girl and those Wee Papa Girl Rappers give great dance hall ragga in a British spin on hip-hop. 

While pop reached a new purple phase, the older kids were out at Acid House parties, buying records that sent S'Express and Yazz with Cold Cut to the top of the charts - much to the bemusement and then alarm of the grown-ups. 

Aswad were the sound of the summer with a surprise smash hit after years flying the red, gold and green for British reggae, the Mission brought towering bombast to Television Centre, and All About Eve endured perhaps the most famous tumbleweed moment in the show's history. But which of our guests admits to an ecstatically enhanced Top of the Pops appearance in 1988? Clue: it's not Cliff. 

With interviews from Matt Goss, Jason Donovan, Wendy James, Aswad, Wayne Hussey, Cold Cut, Mark Moore, All About Eve and Wee Papa Girl Rappers.

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